Sunday, October 30, 2011

Trip Report: Maui

I have a good excuse for my radio silence the last couple of weeks: vacation. And not just any vacation - a trip to Maui!! I have wanted to go to Hawaii for as long as I can remember, and thanks to all the traveling Mr. Valley Writer did last year in prepping for our relocation, we had enough frequent flier miles to make going to Maui a lot more budget friendly (Hawaii is expensive!!!).

We enjoyed lots of relaxation by the pool, strolls on the beach, as well as some snorkeling & volcano touring. It was absolutely beautiful! See for yourself:

Kaanapali

Kapalua

Wailea

Snorkeling Molokini Crater

Black Sand Beach - Makena

Tide pools - Black Sand Beach

Mt. Haleakala Crater

View of the big island of Hawaii from 10,000 feet up on Mt. Haleakala﻿

Of course, we also enjoyed lots of good food and drink. One my favorite experiences was the luau we went to in Lahaina (the Old Lahaina Luau). We enjoyed yummy tropical cocktails, great food & views and an entertaining hula show, too! (Sadly, there were no fire dancers. But I say that's just an excuse to go back someday!)

Kalua pig - cooked in an underground oven (imu)

Happy Valley Writer!

﻿

I even tried the famous (or should I say infamous) Hawaiian poi (a taro root paste) - which, if you never make it to Hawaii, I assure you that you aren't missing anything! It's like cold, gummy mashed potatoes. Not quite my thing.

In addition to the luau, one standout food that deserves mention was the Black Pearl dessert we had at Mama's Fish House in Paia. Check out this presentation:

I'm slowly making my way back into "real life" - slow being the operative word. That includes getting back to creativity in the kitchen. While I love to cook, it is nice to give it up for a while (not to mention the cleaning and shopping that goes with it!). No worries, I'm sure I'll be whipping up some fall recipes soon; after all, Thanksgiving is just around the corner!

About Me

I'm Amber, a 30-something writer with a passion for food, wine, travel and good books. I'm a transplant from the Pioneer Valley in Massachusetts (hence the name "Valley Writer") now living in Southern California with my husband and two cats. I love trying out new recipe ideas and visiting interesting places, and sharing the best new finds with my friends, family--and the world!